Rishika Shahi
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce recently opened up about his thrilling experience filming a Pepsi commercial for the NFL season, where he donned a custom-made gladiator armor. During an episode of his podcast, “New Heights,” co-hosted with his brother Jason Kelce, Travis shared insights into the making of the ad and the unique costume he got to keep.
A Unique Gladiator Experience
Travis Kelce expressed his enthusiasm for portraying a gladiator in the commercial, titled “Make Your Gameday Epic.” He described the armor as “custom made” by Pepsi, emphasizing how special it was to wear such an iconic outfit. “When you get to put on a cool outfit like that — like Pepsi custom made our armor, our gladiator’s armor,” he remarked.
“That was awesome,” Travis said of getting to star in the ad. “… Like, when you get to put on a cool outfit like that — like Pepsi custom made our armor, our gladiator’s armor.” “Was that [real]? Is it actually metal or is it like plastic?,” Jason, 36, then asked. “Don’t lie. Don’t lie to me.”
Behind-the-Scenes Fun
In a playful exchange with Jason, Travis humorously defended the authenticity of his armor, quipping about its durability. “It’s full [armor],” he joked, countering Jason’s skepticism about whether it was real metal or plastic. This light-hearted banter showcased the camaraderie between the brothers as they discussed their experiences on set.
The commercial features several NFL stars alongside Kelce, including Josh Allen, Derrick Henry, and Justin Jefferson. The ad was directed by Jake Scott, son of Ridley Scott, who directed the original “Gladiator” film. Travis praised the director for his ability to guide the cast effectively through their scenes. “Jake did an unbelievable job… he brawled us through everything and knocked everything out real fast,” he said.
Celebrating Game Day with Pepsi
The commercial celebrates the upcoming NFL season and features an epic showdown set to a reimagined version of Queen’s classic “We Will Rock You,” performed by Megan Thee Stallion. In addition to showcasing football action, the ad captures the spirit of camaraderie among players as they prepare for game day.
“It’s an absolute honor to be a part of something like this,” Kelce said in the clip posted on Pepsi’s official TikTok page on Friday, Sept. 20. “I’m so grateful to Pepsi for asking me to be a part of it. Just getting the thumbs up that I could handle the load of being a gladiator, I guess.” He added, “It’s such a cool experience, and I’m excited that I got the opportunity.”
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